Gas-retort.



C. vW. ISBELL.

GAS RETDRT.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

VIVI-l Patented May I3, |902.

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NTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES lV. ISBELL, OF NEY YORK, N. Y.

GAS-RETO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,870, dated May 13, 1902.

Original application filed May 15. 190].I Serial No. 60,298. No. 72,781.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. IsBELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented new and usefullmprovementsin Gras-Retorts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to upright retorts for the manufactureof illuminating-gas froln bituminous coal.

The object of the improvement is to provide for the so loosening of the residual coke from the retorts that it may be permitted to drop or be pushed out easily downward therefrom when the retort-bottom is opened for its discharge.

In carrying out my invention I construct the upright retorts with upwardly-running channels in their sides, and I provide means for the introduction into the lower parts of the retorts of air or steam, which finding its way upward through said channels produces the combustion and gasification of such small portions of the coke as may remain in parts of said channels and as may occupy the parts of the retort directly adjacent to said channels, and so loosen the remainder occupying the body of the retort.

I will first describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of a coal-gas-generating apparatus in which it is embodied and will afterward point out its novelty in claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the apparatus; Fig. 2, horizontal section of the same in the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Figs. 3 and a represent vertical sections at right angles to each other of the lower part of a retort and the means for supplying air or steam thereto.

d ct designate upright retorts having their interior surfaces grooved to form channels 14., running directly from bottom to top. These grooved retorts may be of any suitable horizontal sectional form and so far as their exteriors are considered may be of any suitable construction aud set in any suitable manner, but are herein represented as built of fire-brick in two parallel rows into the same structure with their heating-chamber b of masonry, which is supported on a floor- Divided and this application filed August 21, 1901. Serial (No model.)

plate c and is in communication with an eX- ternal heating-furnacegthrough a flue h and with a chimney t' through flues 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The said retorts are represented as each provided With an iron head or mouthpiece j and with an iron bottom 7c, the said head being iitted with a sliding lid Z, which is opened for charging, and the said bottom being, for the purpose of discharging, hinged, as shown at 13, to the Hoor-plate c. When closed, the hinged bottom or discharging-lid 7c is secured by swinging hooks e', pivoted to the floor-plate. On the inner face of said bottom orV lid there is carried by supports 19 a grate u, upon which the charge rests some distance above the bottom or lid. The said bottom or lid is also made hollow to form a chamber 16, from which by the opening of a valve 27 air or steam may be supplied to the interior of the retort. To provide for the introduction of steam or air, preferably superheated steam, into the chamber 16, a fixed pipe oc runs under the floorplate c, and from this pipe flexible branch pipes 22 run one to the chamber 16 of each lid it'. The said pipe is represented in Fig. 1 as receiving steam through a superheating-coil y', which is arranged in a small heating-chamber in the rear wall of the furnace to be heated by the heat of the furnace. The channels 14 in these retorts are of such width and depth that when the retort is charged with the coal ordinarily used for the manufacture of coalgas the said coal will not fill the said channels; but even when it expands, as it `naturally does in the process, it will leave the said channels partly unobstructed, so that the gas generated and liberated by the heat from the coal in the body of the retort finding its way into the said channels will nd a ready upward passage through them to the outlets fn, providedin the retort-heady'. The said channels, besides thus forming passages for the upward exit of the gas, constitute spaces into which the coal can expand as it is gradually coked, and, moreover, when air or steam is introduced into the retorts through the pipes m and 22 and the bottom chambers 1G after the coal has been completely coked the said air entering through the grate u and passing up- IOO Ward through said channels produces such combustion of the coke in the said channels and in the contiguous part-s of the retort close to the sides thereof as to quickly so loosen the residue that on the opening of the lids Zt it may fall out by gravitation or be easily expelled by pushing it down from the top.

What I claim isl. The combination with an upright gas-retort having upwardly-directed channels in its inner face and an external furnace for heating said retort, of means for introducing steam or air directly into the lower part of said retort Without its entering the furnace, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination with an upright gas-retort having upwardly-directed channels in its interior, of a retort-bottom in Which is a chamber for air or steam, means for supplying air or steam to said chamber, and a valve for opening communication between said chamber and the interior of the retort, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The combination with an upright gas-retort having upwardly-directed channels in its 2 5 interior, of a retort-bottom in which is a chamber for air or steam, means for supplying air or steam to said chamber, a grate supported on and some distance above said bottom for the support of the charge in the retort, and a 3o valve for opening communication between said chamber and the space Within the retort below said grate, all substantially as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 35 my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of August, 1901.

CHARLES W. ISBELL. Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNEs, GEORGE BARRY, J r. 

